Stay safe this Guy Fawkes night

Police Scotland & Scottish Fire and Rescue Service are urging members of the public to stay safe during the Guy Fawkes celebrations tonight and over the weekend.

Advice from the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is to attend a safely organised bonfire and firework display. However if you must have a bonfire at home make sure it is well away from buildings, vehicles, trees, hedges, fences, power lines, telecommunications equipment and sheds – and you must ensure that smoke does not cause a nuisance to neighbours or flying embers endanger neighbouring property.

Police Scotland will be carrying out additional patrols tonight and over the weekend to keep Bonfire Night celebrations safe and enjoyable for everyone.

Special Constable Bob Ballantyne of the Formartine Community Police Team said

The vast majority of firework displays, being held as an organised event or within private premises within Formartine, will be done responsibly and to the enjoyment of the wider public.

However, where residents experience incidents where fireworks are being used in an anti-social manner or are being used irresponsibly, I would encourage them to contact Police Scotland and report the matter.

Officers within the Formartine Community Police Team wish to reassure residents within the community that incidents involving the misuse of fireworks and associated anti-social behaviour, will not be tolerated.

The community can have full confidence that Police Scotland will deal with all instances robustly and offenders will be investigated and prosecuted if deemed guilty of an offence.

Bonfire safety tips from Scottish Fire and Rescue service are

Never drink alcohol if you are tending a bonfire or setting off fireworks – remember it is an offence to consume alcohol in a public place.

To reduce the emission of harmful smoke and combustion products bonfires should comprise of untreated wood and paper based materials only.

There is a danger of explosion from pressurised containers or sealed vessels amongst bonfire material or irresponsibly thrown on burning bonfires.

Never throw fireworks on bonfires.

Never use flammable liquids to ignite bonfires – use proprietary fire lighters.

Smoke from bonfires must not pose a public nuisance, affect visibility on roads or otherwise inconvenience vehicles.